She is now in the presence of the Lord and has rejoined with the ‘Love of her Life’, her late husband Chuck.
Dolores was born October 17, 1929 in Vincent, Iowa to Thomas and Alma Bond, 2 months sooner than expected and weighing just under 2 lbs. Her Aunt Tillie kept her warm by hot water in mason jars lining the sides of her basket. Dolores was committed to surviving!!
Growing up, Dolores was involved with all kinds of activities, especially tap dancing. She completed all her schooling and graduated from Independence High School in 1947. She worked for 1 year at the local A&P Store, but her ultimate calling was to become a nurse. She began nurses training in 1948 and graduated in September 1951 as a Registered Nurse.
Dolores worked for a year in Waterloo, Iowa where she met Charles (Chuck) R. Runyan. They were married on October 5, 1952. The new couple moved to Champaign, Illinois where she worked for 4 years (1953-1957) so Chuck could attend the University of Illinois (U of I) Engineering program. Dolores would say with a smile, “I had to subsidize the GI Bill to get Dad thru School”. During this time, they had their first child, William Robert in 1954.
After Chuck graduated from U of I, he accepted a job with Hughes Aircraft Co in Culver City, CA. Dolores helped pack up the car and they moved to California in July 1957. They had two more children after their arrival; Mark Steven in 1958 and Nancy Louise in 1959. With 3 little ones, Dolores elected to stay home and tend to the kids while Chuck started his career.
In 1960, Dolores & family moved to West Hills in the San Fernando Valley, purchased their very first home, and raised their family. Once the 3 children were of school age, Dolores returned to work in 1963 as a surgical scrub nurse for West Hills Doctors Hospital. She worked for 25 years in the surgery department, became surgery supervisor for several years, and then in 1988, she elected to retire from her outstanding career. The doctors and nurses she worked with would say Dolores was a true professional, her attention to detail was second to none, and an all-around enjoyable lady to work beside.
Dolores was grounded in her Christian faith from an early age. After moving to West Hills, Dolores & family became members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church where they worshipped, fellowshipped, and were involved with the church family for 58 years. They were most proud of their children, each receiving their confirmation, and becoming good Christians.
Over the years, Dolores was involved in many activities, especially UCLA athletics, having attended years of football and basketball games and special events with her husband. She was a strong supporter of the university, and one of the highlights was attending the 1995 NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in Seattle WA, watching her beloved UCLA Bruins win the National Championship. Dolores said, “It was an experience of a lifetime!”.
Intermingled with all these activities, she still wanted to see the world. She & her husband traveled to every corner of the globe, having taken 15 Crystal cruises, seeing the sights, the many cultures, and
mother nature at her best. It was just living the High Life they worked so hard for and so richly deserved.
At no time did she ever miss out on or forget their most important retirement goal, that of ‘World’s Best Grandparents’. She followed their 3 granddaughters’ growth all along their way. She attended every event they could fit in, from high school sporting events, recitals, concerts, college softball games, graduations and weddings. This kept them quite busy, and yes, they succeeded at this goal!
Dolores also took pride in her home and yard, tending to the fruit trees, tomato and vegetable gardens, & flowers. Dolores washed, squeezed, and prepared the bounties that were harvested. At times there were more peaches, tomatoes, & vegetables on the dining room table then there were in the grocery market. Dolores made the best peach cobbler in town!
Many evenings she would just sit on the patio swing admiring her yard and all the work & effort put in. While swinging, the squirrels would walk right up to them, gently taking nuts from her hands, then run off only to return a few short minutes later for another. She was a fan favorite of all the squirrels & birds in the neighborhood.
With all these things filling her days, Dolores still found time to host family swim parties, BBQ’s and birthday parties. They were all special times. As well, the work and effort she put forth in hosting holiday gatherings was enormous. She prepared more food, snacks, desserts than one could ever imagine. Funny how everyone would receive a take-home care package of delicious leftovers at the end of the day. She planned it that way. Equally special was her gracious and loving generosity with Christmas gifts to the entire family. All smiles and joy on Christmas day.
One special beauty of Dolores was her unconditional love, her caring heart, and her generosity to her kids, grand kids, and great grand kids. She made sure their birthdays were special. She will long be remembered as the greatest, sweetest mother of all time. Dolores’ inherited nickname from the grandkids & great grandkids was ‘GGMA’ (Great Grand Mother). Pretty easy for all the little ones to say and remember.
Beyond immediate family, Dolores was well liked by her friends, co-workers, neighbors, doctors, and caretakers alike. To some, she was their second mother. Dolores will surely be missed by all who engaged in her presence.
Dolores didn’t just live life, she lived life well! WE WILL FOREVER MISS HER!
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Alma Bond, sister Donna Wilson, brothers Ronald, Robert & John Bond, and her husband Charles (Chuck) Runyan (2015). She is survived by her sister Nancy & her husband John Gaul, her children William & his wife Louise Runyan, Mark Runyan, Nancy & her husband Richard (Rick) Rentler; her grandchildren Meredith and her husband Alex Fierro, Amelia Davis, Caitlin and her husband Nicholas (Nick) Child; and great grandchildren Brewer Fierro (7), Camden Fierro (5), Abigail Fierro (15), Saxon Davis (3), Declan Child (4), Connor Child (1).
After 91 wonderful years, Dolores will be laid to rest alongside her husband Chuck at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery, Chatsworth, CA.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 26 at 1:00p.m. at Oakwood Chapel, Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Viewing 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.; Service 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Rich Schieber officiating.
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